ST. LOUIS — A Bridgeton pediatrician exchanged drug prescriptions for sex or cash with at least 25 women for nearly a decade, according to charges filed in federal court Thursday.
Dr. Craig Spiegel, 67, is accused of illegally writing more than 1,200 prescriptions with no legitimate medical reason and providing more than 73,000 pills, including highly addictive drugs such as opioids and amphetamines.
Spiegel owned and operated a clinic in Bridgeton, and he issued the prescriptions even though he knew some of the people had drug disorders or were sharing the drugs with others, including children, according to the charges.
“The weight of evidence is simply overwhelming,” U.S. prosecutors wrote in a court filing.
Spiegel’s lawyer did not immediately return a request for comment.
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Spiegel met many of the women he illegally prescribed drugs to when they were patients as children, the charges say. And in once case, he prescribed drugs in exchange for sex acts with a woman who later died of an overdose at age 40.
Another woman said Spiegel became violent with her while forcing her to perform oral sex on him in a public bathroom, and a child said he was inappropriate with her during an exam, according to the charges. Various women reported he guilted them into sex acts, saying such things as, “You owe me big time.”
In another instance, a woman advised her friend that Spiegel would give her any prescription she wanted if she performed a sex act.
Federal investigators searched his clinic and questioned him about his behavior. But Spiegel still continued to distribute drugs illegally, the charges say.
Spiegel had not been to his pediatric clinic in about six months when the charges were filed, according to court records.
Spiegel faces charges of illegally distributing drugs, which could come with a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Prosecutors requested Spiegel be detained throughout court proceedings.
If patients of Spiegel’s want to reach federal investigators, prosecutors said they may call the Drug Enforcement Administration at 314-240-1026.
Fentanyl is a strong synthetic opioid that has been used in clinical settings for decades and is often described as 50 times stronger than heroin.
